I wasn’t just trying to be clever. Progressivism is based on the assumption that humans are pefectible, and are on a journey from old, backward thinking toward modern (and even futuristic), enlightened thinking. The old way of thinking includes outmoded beliefs like the importance of family, nation, propety/wealth, etc. If Progressivism can just get everyone to learn their new, modern viewpoints, humans will live in harmony, peace, and happiness.

To do this, Progressivism identifies some law, norm, or tradition that is old and somehow holds humanity back. Perhaps it is the outdated notion of national borders, or perhaps the backward assumption that work builds character. They attack it, and hopefully destroy it, advancing humanity a little bit farther on its path to perfection.

Or, as David Burge (iowahawk) put it:

They don’t care that their efforts result in destroyed lives and unhappy people. By any sane metric, the United States is one of the most successful, safe, and egalitarian societies in the history of mankind, but Progressives are unhappy. Feminists are unhappy. Democrats are unhappy. They are unhappy any time they are thwarted in the realization of their goals. They are unhappy they can’t get everyone to join in the consensus. They are unhappy that the United States doesn’t enthusiastically embrace their religious fervor.

Eventually, you run out of things you can destroy in the name of progress.